Serena Williams has already surpassed former rival Martina Hingis in the list of the longest tenured players on top of the WTA world rankings, and destined to surpass more legends in the coming weeks.
Women’s Tennis Association confirmed last week that Williams already toppled Hingis as the 9th longest reining no.1 in WTA ranking by lording on top of the ladder for 74 weeks, from February 18, 2013 to July 21, 2014.
The 32-year old Williams (9,231) is even bound to overtake other women’s tennis legends in the coming weeks, because of her massive lead over reigning world’s no.2 Li Na of China (6,920).
“By spending her 74th straight week atop the WTA Rankings this week, Serena Williams has passed Martina Hingis’ run from May 2000 to October 2001 as the ninth-longest stretch at World No.1 inrankings history,” WTA issued last week.
“And with a healthy points lead over World No.2 Li Na, in the coming monthsWilliams could pass several more players on the list of consecutive weeks at No.1. Here are the Top 10 stints.”
Serena is expected to beat Chris Evert’s run of 76 weeks on top of WTA rankingsfrom November 18, 1980 to May 2, 1982 and Hingis’ record of 80 weeks from March 31, 1997 to October 11, 1998.
If she continues her good form throughout the US Open series, William could be on her way to beat Stefi Graf’s 87 consecutive weeks from June 7, 1993 to February 5, 1995 and MartinaNavratilova’s 90 straight weeks from November 25, 1985 to August 16, 1987.
However, Graf (187 weeks from August 17, 1987 to March 10, 1991) and Navratilova (156 weeks, June 14, 1982-June 9, 1985) still firmly hold the top two spots of this rankings, with Chris Evert’s 113 weeks (May 10, 1976-July 9, 1978) rounding out the top-three.
Williams, who has been in a slump as of late after an unusual campaign at Wimbledon 2014, will compete at Stanford’s Bank of the West Classic. She’s then expected to compete in Montreal for the Rogers Cup and the Cincinnati Masters before defending her US Open Crown in Flushing Meadows starting late August.
